Under-trained Levies Force unable to maintain law, order: Malik

QUETTA - Balochistan government has agreed to amend Anti-Terrorism Act for compensating the families of the journalists who were killed in line with their duties. Addressing the protest demonstration organised by the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) outside the Balochistan Assembly building here on Thursday, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch assured the protesting media persons for the early resolution of their demands. The CM accepted the major demand of the BUJ for including the slain journalists in the compensatory list of the government employees killed in line with their duties. He announced to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act to entertain the families of slain media men for compensation in line with the government employees. The CM also announced Rs 20 million for the insurance and welfare of the journalists. “We acknowledge the sacrifices of the media who always fought against dictatorship and struggled for the revival of democracy in the country,” Dr Malik said. He directed the home minister to hold meeting with representatives of the journalists and resolve the issue of their security. Under the supervision of Provincial Information Minister Abdul Rahim Ziaratwaal, committee will also review the issues of workers employed by the newspaper owners and other media houses.Earlier, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch told the provincial assembly that the Levies Force was unable to maintain law and order due to lack of training.The assembly session started with Deputy Speaker Mir Abdul Quddoos Bezinjo in chair here on Thursday. Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party MPA Agha Syed Liaquat Ali moved the resolution which reads that educated employees of Provincial Levies Force were selected for “effective course” after passing the examination of A-1 and B-1 in 2007 and they also completed the courses of Hawaldar and ASI. He said that 20 percent promotion quota was reserved for Levies Force personnel in comparison with 60 percent quota reserved for police personnel that has created unrest among Levies employees. The resolution demanded the provincial government to provide equal chances of promotion to Levies and police personnel.Responding to the resolution, Dr Abdul Malik said presently, Levies Force was unable to maintain law and order.”Our Levies Force cannot maintain law and order as they are unorganised and untrained besides that they have been politicized,” he said. He regretted that employees of Levies Force usually remained at home and visited offices to draw their monthly salary. The CM said it was need of the hour to introduce reforms in Levies system and arrange their professional training. He said that weapons and other required items had been provided to Levies Force, adding that however, they needed professional training. The deputy speaker put the resolution to the house that passed it unanimously.After completion of other proceedings of the house, the chair adjourned the house till Mar 22 at 4pm. BALOCHISTAN PA ADOPTS FOUR RESOLUTIONS The Balochistan Assembly on Thursday adopted four resolutions during its second sitting of its 8th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.Two of the resolutions were sponsored by JUI-F lawmakers while one each by PML-N and PkMAP legislators.Through these resolutions, the House called upon the government to provide gas facility to the residents of Aghberg, fix 70 per cent quota for the youths of Hub city at the time of issuing NOC to private companies and banks, enhance Levies quota in capacity building courses and remove principal of Cadet College Qilla Saifullah over illegal appointments and violation of agreement between the government representative (DCO) and Khudaidadzai tribe which donated land for the college.Female lawmaker of JUI-F tabled a resolution about providing relaxation in the age limit from 28 to 35 years for the youths of Balochistan who wanted to appear in the CSS examination. Lawmakers also suggested some amendments in the resolution which would be incorporated and tabled in the later sittings.Raised by PML-N lawmaker, the House took up two adjournment motions (AMs) which were related to the killings of Kurd tribe people in the areas of Dhadar and Dera Murad Jamali. It was agreed upon that the issue would be discussed in any of the next sittings.